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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2016 SPORTS More than a game as China and Qatar meet in ‘symbolic’ clash DOHA: An Asian zone World Cup qualifier four qualifying games. Their last home match- between the bottom two sides in Group A, a 1-0 defeat by Syria in Xi’an-saw angry fans who have won just one game in eight protest in the streets. between them, may not seem a particularly World Cup 2022 hosts Qatar are only noteworthy match. slightly better off. They have clawed three But when China face Qatar in Kunming points from four matches, following a 1-0 vic- today, it will also be a clash between arguably tory in Doha last month against Syria. the most ambitious and certainly in their But only the top two teams from the region biggest spending nations who, in the group qualify automatically for Russia. Iran long-term, could both play a central role in head the group with 10 points and shaping the sport’s future. Uzbekistan are second with nine. The third- In the short-term both could deal an placed team will have a play-off chance to get almost fatal blow to each other’s already very to Russia, the position currently held by slim chances of reaching Russia 2018. “It South Korea with seven points. would be easy simply to dismiss the China Qatar game as a dead rubber or as a match THE PRICE OF FAILURE between weaker nations on the periphery of Emphasising how desperate China and world football,” said Professor Simon Qatar are to qualify for the 2018 tournament, Chadwick, a British-based Asian football both have sacked their coaches during the expert. “However, these are two aspiring current round of qualifying. football nations, with major football ambi- Notably, China have appointed World Cup tions. “Both nations still hold out hope of winning-coach Marcello Lippi on a reputed making Russia 2018 and failure to do so $20 million-a-year contract to revive hope in would be an embarrassment and a setback in their almost moribund World Cup campaign. their desire to be considered as being among Today’s game will be his first big test in the world’s leading football nations. charge of “Team Dragon”. “The game therefore has huge symbolic Qatar turned back to popular former meaning.” It is the World Cup where both coach Jorge Fossati after losing their first two countries wish to make a mark on the global matches in this round of qualifying, despite game. Both have invested heavily to fuel their storming through the last stage. Lippi said he ambitions. China, which aims to be a foot- and the Chinese nation are hoping for a mira- balling superpower by 2050, has spent an cle. Fossati is insistent that whatever happens estimated $1 billion developing its domestic in Kunming will not be decisive. “We are very game, says Chadwick. optimistic about the result of the game in It harbours hopes of hosting its own World China, but it is not a definitive game,” he said Cup and, one day, winning football’s greatest before his team flew out. prize. Qatar is in the middle of transforming Last week China played a behind closed itself by splurging $200 billion-plus to host doors friendly in preparation for today’s the 2022 tournament. The stadiums alone for match. In contrast, Qatar beat Russia 2-1 in that World Cup will cost some $10 billion. Doha in a match broadcast live on television. Both countries’ ambition also represents a “We wanted to help Marcello if he wanted to challenge to the established world football watch the game,” joked Fossati. Defeat today order, says China-based Cameron Wilson, and the costs could be high. BRUSSELS: Belgium’s Thomas Meunier scores against Estonia during the World Cup Group H qualifying soccermatch between Belgium and founder of the Wild East Football website. “I For Qatar, it could mean the end of any Estonia, at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on Sunday. — AP think it is clear the balance of power is shift- hope of qualifying for their first World Cup ing away from Europe, albeit slowly, and it’s before they host in 2022, and showing a scep- no coincidence that money is a big part of tical footballing world they deserve to host that-neither Chinese nor Qatari football lacks the tournament. China could pay a price off Belgium rampant, Portugal serious financial backing,” Wilson told AFP. the pitch, says Chadwick, where continued But with ambition comes pressure, and football failure could unleash the “potential neither nation is responding too well at the for political and socio-cultural fallout at moment. China have one point from their home”. — AFP survive scare in qualifiers Standings PARIS: Belgium hammered Estonia 8-1 to go Switzerland. Ronaldo converted a first-half spot misfiring Dutch in the hunt for a place at Russia clear in Group H, while Cristiano Ronaldo scored kick to open the scores but then missed a sec- 2018, but they will need to play better if they are twice as Portugal survived a scare before over- ond one which hit the post. to trump the twin threats of table-toppers Group B Thailand 3 0 0 3 1 6 0 coming Latvia 4-1 in World Cup qualifying on Within a minute Latvia were level as substi- France and Sweden in Group A. Australia 3 2 1 0 5 2 7 Sunday. tute Arturs Zjuzins pounced on the loose ball Arjen Robben had a chance after a quarter of Saudi Arabia 3 2 1 0 5 3 7 Note: Top two in each group qualify for the finals There were braces from Romelu Lukaku and following a goalmouth scramble to fire home on an hour for the Dutch, but should have done Japan 3 2 0 1 5 3 6 in Russia. Two third-placed teams play-off with Dries Mertens as Belgium ran rampant with fur- 67 minutes. better than firing at Ralph Schon in the UAE 3 2 0 1 5 3 6 winner to face CONCACAF play-off winner over ther goals from Thomas Meunier, Eden Hazard, But headers from Willian and Bruno Alves and Luxembourg goal, as the Dutch tightened the Iraq 3 0 0 3 2 6 0 two legs for place in finals. — AFP Yannick Carrasco and an own goal to make it a spectacular scissor-kick from Ronaldo assured screw. The home stopper was finally beaten on four wins from four. Portugal of the three points. 36 minutes when Robben moved the ball onto In the same group Greece scored a 95th- Earlier in Group B, the Faroe Islands were sim- his favourite left foot to slot home for a deserved minute equaliser through Giorgos Tzavellas after ilarly plucky in soggy Lucerne, where Dutch lead. US women close year with a free-kick had given Bosnia the lead as the ball Switzerland scored seven minutes from the end But a minute before the break the minnows rebounded back off the post and in off goal- through Stephan Lichtsteiner to grind out a 2-0 grabbed a leveller after Joshua Brenet felled keeper Orestis Karnezis. The point for Greece victory and maintain their 100 percent record. Daniel da Mota in the box and Maxime Chanot a 5-0 win over Romania means they have 10 from four games in Group In the same group Hungary hammered punished the visitors from the penalty spot. H, two behind the Belgians. Andorra 4-0 at home. Robben, whose brilliant career has been CARSON: It was an eventful year for the US Gibraltar made a piece of history and were blighted by injury, failed to make it out for the women’s national team off the field, with level for a while in Cyprus before going down DEPAY SPARES DUTCH BLUSHES second half. Wesley Sneijder was also hooked at Hope Solo’s suspension after the Rio Matches on TV agonisingly 3-1. But they had cause to celebrate Out-of-favour Manchester United winger the break. Olympics, lawsuits over the expiring collec- a significant consolation with Lee Casciaro’s Memphis Depay came off the bench to score It was Depay, one of the replacements, who tive bargaining agreement and Megan (Local Timings) 51st-minute equaliser-their first ever World Cup twice and save the Netherlands’ blushes in struck soon afterwards to break home hearts. Rapinoe’s protest during the national qualifier away goal. Luxembourg. And the 22-year-old, strongly linked with a anthem dominating the headlines. World Cup 2018 - Asia Ronaldo scored twice and even missed a Depay gave United manager Jose Mourinho a move away from Old Trafford to Everton, sealed But in their final match of the year, the Cup 2019 Qualifying spot-kick as European champions Portugal reminder of his worth just as the Dutch were the match with his second goal in the final min- Americans offered a summary of how recovered from a second-half wobble in Lisbon sliding to an embarrassing draw. utes. Also in Group A Bulgaria edged Belarus 1-0 things played out on the field in equal Japan v Saudi Arabia 13:35 beIN SPORTS 1 HD to remain three points adrift of Group B leaders The 3-1 victory over Luxembourg keeps the in Sofia. —AFP parts fulfillment and disappointment, with South Korea v Uzbekistan 14:00 Crystal Dunn, Christen Press, Morgan Brian beIN SPORTS 4 HD and Samantha Mewis scoring to help the China v Qatar 14:35 US beat Romania 5-0 on Sunday night.